Soil conservation method

ABSTRACT

A soil conservation method includes producing a plurality of water accumulating units that are intercommunicated with one another, fixing the water accumulating units on a soil layer, and constructing paving and two channels on tops of the water accumulating units. The channels are located on two sides of the paving and communicated with at least one of the water accumulating units. A soil conservation system is thus provided. Rainwater falling on the paving is guided into the channels. The rainwater is then guided into and stored in the water accumulating units and then permeates into the soil layer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a soil conservation method. Inparticular, the present invention relates to a soil conservation methodfor conserving soil and water by means of accumulating rainwater. Thepresent invention also relates to a soil conservation system or wateraccumulating system.

2. Description of the Related Art

The paving of a road or square consists of a concrete layer or anasphalt layer on top of the concrete layer. A channel is provided oneach side of the paving for accumulating and draining rainwater.However, the paving is not permeable to water such that the rainwaterfalling on the paving is immediately drained and thus could not be used.People pump groundwater during water shortage period, which may causecollapse of ground and/or hazard to human.

FIG. 9 of the drawings illustrates a conventional water accumulatingsystem for accumulating water in the soil. A plurality of vertical waterpipes 1′ are provided in the paving. Each water pipe 1′ extends throughthe concrete layer 2′ to the soil layer 3′ to guide water on the pavingdownward to the soil layer 3′. However, only part of rainwater fallingon the paving can be guided to the soil layer 3′. In other words, mostpart of rainwater falling on the paving is drained via the channels ontwo sides of the paving. Further, the soil layer 3′ has a limited waterabsorbing speed such that the water pipes 1′ overflow easily. The soilconservation (or soil and water conservation) effect is poor. Further,the water pipes 1′ are exposed on the paving and thus apt to be blocked.Further, the water pipes 1′ adversely affect the appearance of thepaving.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a soilconservation method comprises producing a plurality of wateraccumulating units that are intercommunicated with one another, fixingthe water accumulating units on a soil layer, and constructing pavingand two channels on tops of the water accumulating units. The channelsare located on two sides of the paving and communicated with at leastone of the water accumulating units.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a soilconservation system comprises a plurality of water accumulating unitsfixed on a soil layer, the water accumulating units beingintercommunicated with one another, and paving and two channelsconstructed on tops of the water accumulating units. The channels arelocated on two sides of the paving and communicated with at least one ofthe water accumulating units.

Rainwater falling on the paving is guided into the channels. Therainwater is then guided into and stored in the water accumulating unitsand then permeates into the soil layer.

Each of two outermost rows of water accumulating units is communicatedwith the associated channel by a tube having a mesh being mountedtherein.

The water accumulating units are secured by a plurality of supportingmembers each comprising a vertical post, a plurality of upper supportingarms formed on an upper end of the vertical post, and a plurality oflower supporting arms formed on a lower end of the vertical post. Eachupper supporting arm is located on top of an associated wateraccumulating unit. Each lower supporting arm is located to a bottom ofthe associated water accumulating unit.

The paving includes a concrete layer on tops of the water accumulatingunits. The paving may further include a plurality of reinforcing barsmounted on tops of the water accumulating units and bonded with theconcrete layer. The paving may further include an asphalt layer on topof the concrete layer.

Each water accumulating unit includes a water receiving chamber having abottom opening. In an embodiment of the invention, each wateraccumulating unit includes a plurality of waste tires stacked oneanother and tied together with at least one wire. A top cover is mountedon top of the uppermost one of the stacked waste tires.

Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a soil conservation method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a water accumulating unit in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2A, illustratingattachment of a water tube to the water accumulating unit in FIG. 2A forguiding water into the water accumulating unit.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating connection of wateraccumulating units in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a plurality of water accumulating units inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the water accumulating system inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view illustrating operation of the wateraccumulating system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7A is an exploded perspective view of a modified embodiment of thewater accumulating unit in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7B is an exploded perspective view similar to FIG. 7A, illustratingattachment of a water tube to the water accumulating unit in FIG. 7A forguiding water into the water accumulating unit.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the water accumulating unit in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the water accumulating unit in FIG. 7B.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a conventional water accumulating system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a soil conservation method in accordance with thepresent invention comprises producing a plurality of water accumulatingunits (step 1), fixing the water accumulating units on a surface of asoil layer (step 2), and constructing paving and channels (step 3).

Referring to FIG. 2A, each water accumulating unit 11 includes a topcover 12 and defines a water receiving chamber 13 with a bottom opening14. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the accumulating units 11 are placed ona surface of a soil layer 4 and connected to one another to form amatrix of water accumulating units. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a rigidsupporting member 22 is provided for connecting the water accumulatingunits 11. In this embodiment, the rigid supporting member 22 includes avertical post 221, upper supporting arms 222 extending from upper endsof the vertical post 221, and lower supporting arms 223 extending frombottom ends of the vertical posts 221. Four water accumulating units 11are secured together, with each water accumulating unit 11 beingsandwiched between an associated upper supporting arm 222 and anassociated lower supporting arm 223. Further, the four wateraccumulating units 11 are tied together with a wire 23. Preferably, thewire 23 is fixed to the vertical post 221. The water accumulating units11 are intercommunicated with water piping 21 that can be fixed to thewater accumulating units 11 and/or the soil layer 4.

Referring to FIG. 5, the water accumulating system is placed above thesoil layer 4, and a plurality of reinforcing bars 7 are mounted on topof the matrix of water accumulating units and rest on (and preferablysecured to) the vertical supporting members 22. A concrete layer 8 isthen provided on tops of the water accumulating units, with the concrete81 being bonded with the reinforcing bars 7 and the supporting members22. An asphalt layer 9 is then provided on top of the concrete layer 8,forming a road or square with paving 6. A water accumulating system orsoil conservation system is thus provided. The number, size, andstrength of the reinforcing bars 7 depend on the need of the road orsquare. The asphalt layer 9 can be omitted. Further, the reinforcingbars 7 and the supporting members 22 can be omitted if the road orsquare is for pedestrian use. It is noted that two outermost rows ofwater accumulating units 11 are located outside the paving. A channel 5is constructed above each of the outermost rows of water accumulatingunits 11.

Referring to FIGS. 2B, 4, and 5, a water tube 15 is connected betweeneach of the outermost rows of water accumulating units 11 and theassociated channel 5. Each water tube 15 includes an upper endcommunicated with an associated channel 5 and a lower end communicatedwith the water receiving compartment 13 of an associated one of theoutermost rows of water accumulating units 11. Thus, water in thechannel 5 can be guided into the outermost rows of water accumulatingunits 11, which are communicated with other rows of water accumulatingunits 11 by the water piping 21. A mesh 16 is mounted in the upper endof each water tube 15 for filtering alien objects.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, when raining, the rainwater falling on thepaving 6 is guided into the channels 5 by the slope of the paving 6.Then, the rainwater is guided into the water accumulating units 11 viathe water tubes 5 and the piping 21. Next, the rainwater in the wateraccumulating units 11 permeates into the soil layer 4. Since the wateraccumulating units 11 occupy a relatively large area and locateduniformly below the paving 6, a large amount of rainwater can be rapidlyabsorbed and guided into the soil layer 4, providing an excellent waterand soil conservation effect while preventing flood. When the waterconserving capacity of the soil layer 4 is full, the water accumulatingunits 11 may accumulate rainwater for future use. Thus, the soil layer 4is supplied with the water accumulated in the water accumulating units11 when the soil layer 4 becomes dry. Further, the water in the wateraccumulating units 11 can be acquired through use of a pump for otheruse.

The overall appearance of the paving 6 is not affected, as there is nohole exposed in the surface of the paving 6. The water inlets arelocated in the channels 5 and the water tubes 15 are supplied withmeshes 16 to filter alien objects, preventing blockage of the watertubes 15. The supporting members 22, the reinforcing bars 7, and theconcrete layer 8 provide reliable support for pedestrians and vehicles.

FIGS. 7A and 8A illustrate a modified embodiment of the wateraccumulating unit 11, wherein the water accumulating unit 11 includes aplurality of stacked tires 17 and a top cover 18 that are tied togetherwith strings ore wires 19. The tires 17 can be waste tires or recycledtires. Similar to the above embodiment, a water tube 191 (see FIGS. 7Band 8B) is connected between each of the outermost rows of wateraccumulating units 11 and the associated channel 5. Each water tube 19includes an upper end communicated with an associated channel 5 and alower end communicated with the water receiving compartment 13 of anassociated one of the outermost rows of water accumulating units 11.Thus, water in the channel 5 can be guided into the outermost rows ofwater accumulating units 11, which are communicated with other rows ofwater accumulating units 11 by the water piping 21. A mesh 192 ismounted in the upper end of each water tube 19 for filtering alienobjects.

In addition to the above-mentioned advantages, the water accumulatingunits 11 using waste tires or recycled tires are environmentallyfriendly.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described,numerous modifications and variations are still possible withoutdeparting from the essence of the invention. The scope of the inventionis limited by the accompanying claims.

1. A soil conservation method comprising: producing a plurality of wateraccumulating units that are intercommunicated with one another; fixingthe water accumulating units on a soil layer; and constructing pavingand two channels on tops of the water accumulating units, with thechannels located on two sides of the paving, the channels beingcommunicated with at least one of the water accumulating units;rainwater falling on the paving being guided into the channels, therainwater being then guided into and stored in the water accumulatingunits and then permeating into the soil layer.
 2. The soil conservationmethod as claimed in claim 1, with each of two outermost rows of wateraccumulating units being communicated with the associated channel by atube, and with a mesh being mounted in the tube.
 3. The soilconservation method as claimed in claim 1, with the water accumulatingunits being secured by a plurality of supporting members each comprisinga vertical post, a plurality of upper supporting arms formed on an upperend of the vertical post, and a plurality of lower supporting armsformed on a lower end of the vertical post, each said upper supportingarm being located on top of an associated one of the water accumulatingunits, each said lower supporting arm being located to a bottom of theassociated one of the water accumulating units.
 4. The soil conservationmethod as claimed in claim 1, with the paving including a concrete layeron tops of the water accumulating units.
 5. The soil conservation methodas claimed in claim 4, with the paving further including a plurality ofreinforcing bars mounted on tops of the water accumulating units andbonded with the concrete layer.
 6. The soil conservation method asclaimed in claim 4, with the paving further including an asphalt layeron top of the concrete layer.
 7. The soil conservation method as claimedin claim 5, with the paving further including an asphalt layer on top ofthe concrete layer.
 8. The soil conservation method as claimed in claim1, with each said water accumulating unit including a water receivingchamber having a bottom opening.
 9. The soil conservation method asclaimed in claim 1, with each said water accumulating unit including aplurality of waste tires stacked one another and tied together with atleast one wire, and with a top cover mounted on top of an uppermost oneof the stacked waste tires.
 10. A soil conservation system comprising: aplurality of water accumulating units fixed on a soil layer, the wateraccumulating units being intercommunicated with one another; paving andtwo channels constructed on tops of the water accumulating units, withthe channels located on two sides of the paving, the channels beingcommunicated with at least one of the water accumulating units;rainwater falling on the paving being guided into the channels, therainwater being then guided into and stored in the water accumulatingunits and then permeating into the soil layer.
 11. The soil conservationsystem as claimed in claim 10, with each of two outermost rows of wateraccumulating units being communicated with the associated channel by atube, and with a mesh being mounted in the tube.
 12. The soilconservation system as claimed in claim 10, with the water accumulatingunits being secured by a plurality of supporting members each comprisinga vertical post, a plurality of upper supporting arms formed on an upperend of the vertical post, and a plurality of lower supporting armsformed on a lower end of the vertical post, each said upper supportingarm being located on top of an associated one of the water accumulatingunits, each said lower supporting arm being located to a bottom of theassociated one of the water accumulating units.
 13. The soilconservation system as claimed in claim 10, with the paving including aconcrete layer on tops of the water accumulating units.
 14. The soilconservation system as claimed in claim 13, with the paving furtherincluding a plurality of reinforcing bars mounted on tops of the wateraccumulating units and bonded with the concrete layer.
 15. The soilconservation system as claimed in claim 13, with the paving furtherincluding an asphalt layer on top of the concrete layer.
 16. The soilconservation system as claimed in claim 14, with the paving furtherincluding an asphalt layer on top of the concrete layer.
 17. The soilconservation system as claimed in claim 10, with each said wateraccumulating unit including a water receiving chamber having a bottomopening.
 18. The soil conservation system as claimed in claim 10, witheach said water accumulating unit including a plurality of waste tiresstacked one another and tied together with at least one wire, and with atop cover mounted on top of an uppermost one of the stacked waste tires.